Campus honours inspiring women

2019-09-04 06:00

FROM being poetically powerful, to ageing elegantly, to confidently career driven, women were celebrated by The Independent Institute of Education (IIE) Varsity College Pieter­maritzburg campus during August.

As tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched on the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956 in protest of the extension of Pass Laws to women, which resulted in August being declared “Women’s Month”, three events were hosted on campus.

The first event took place on August 8 and saw numerous students stand united by reciting empowering poetry and showcasing their various talents.

The event was well-supported by fellow students and students were inspired by motivational speaker and Transformational Life Coach Celeste Du Toit, who spoke on finding your passion, purpose and meaning for life.

The next event, and crowing jewel of the campus’ Women’s Month proceedings, was when more than 30 elderly ladies were pampered, spoilt and entertained on campus.

All the students were enamored with and inspired by the perseverance and positive outlook of these ladies and the fact that they kept dancing, regardless of some of the hardships they faced.

The month ended with a motivational talk by Melanie Veness, CEO of The Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce, titled “What’s wrong with being confident in the workplace.”

Claudine Aboobaker, The IIE’s Varsity College Pietermaritzburg Careers Centre Coordinator, said; “As women we sometimes place limitations on ourselves and subliminal limitations are also imposed on us as by society. This month we looked at tackling those ideas, and understanding how to succeed in the workplace as women”.